It is in interest of BJP, Sena to fight polls together: Fadnavis

CHIEF MINISTER Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that it is in the interest of both BJP and its ally Shiv Sena to fight the next year’s state and Lok Sabha elections jointly, failing which, both parties could “face losses”.

Fadanvis was interacting with the editorial staff of Loksatta and The Indian Express in Nagpur on Saturday.

“I think we (BJP and Shiv Sena) will have to fight the election jointly if there is going to be a pre-poll alliance between Congress and NCP. This is because a large number of our voters are common and they vote for us when we jointly fight elections. Therefore, if we go it alone, we will definitely encounter losses,” the CM said. He, however, added that his government will retain power in 2019 as well.

When it was asked if he would go to the Union government as a minister if the party doesn’t reinstate him as CM, Fadnavis said, “I will do whatever the party would like me to do.”

On the issue of farm distress, Fadnavis said his government had taken several steps to ameliorate the problems of farmers. “We have managed to achieve the highest productivity level in 2012-13 despite drought in the last two years,” he said.